A Length of Repaired Katazome Cotton: Unusual Pattern of Noshi and Shrimp

$90.00 USD

late nineteenth, early twentieth century52" x 13", 132 cm x 33 cm

This length of indigo dyed cotton was dyed in the stencil resist or katazome method. The cotton appears to be hand spun and it is most certainly hand woven.

The pattern on this cloth is very unusual with a repeat image of auspicious noshi and a shrimp. Noshi are strips of dried abalone mean to convey good or celebratory thoughts while shrimp are a wish for longevity since old people often become hunched-over in their later years.

In the center of the cloth it is cut and repaired in the center which leads us to conclude that this length was part of a garment, most likely an undergarment. At the bottom of the cloth is a large repaired hole which can easily be seen in the attendant detail photos.

For its pattern, this is a very unusual length of katazome dyed cotton and desirable for that reason.